Brachial plexopathy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Brachial plexopathy

Alternative Names:

Neuropathy - brachial plexus; Brachial plexus dysfunction
Symptoms:

Shoulder pain
Numbness of the shoulder, arm, or hand
Tingling, burning, pain, or abnormal sensations whose location varies with the part of the plexus injured
Weakness (decreased muscle strength, independent of exercise) of the arm, hand, or wrist.
- Inability to extend or lift the wrist (wrist drop)
- Hand weakness
Horner's syndrome (eye drooping, small pupil, and decreased sweating in the face) -- possibly caused by a lung tumor compressing the plexus

Signs and tests:

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Neuromuscular examination of the arm, hand, and wrist indicates brachial plexus dysfunction. Reflexes may be abnormal in the arm. Specific muscle losses may indicate the portion of the brachial plexus that has been damaged.

Variable deformities may develop in the arm or hand, and loss of muscle mass (atrophy) may be profound. Detailed history may be needed to determine the possible cause of the problem.

Tests that reveal brachial plexopathy may include:

Nerve conduction test and electromyography (NCS/EMG), which is a recording of the electrical activity of nerves and muscles
Nerve biopsy -- indicating systemic diseases that may affect the brachial plexus

Tests are guided by the suspected cause of the dysfunction, as suggested by the history, symptoms, and pattern of symptom development. They may include various blood tests, x-rays, scans, or other tests and procedures.